Shooter 1936-2010

The Greatest Movie Ever Made received two Oscar nominations -- Best Music / Original Score (Jerry Goldsmith), and Best Supporting Actor (Dennis Hopper). Neither won; both were robbed (see the winners here and judge for yourself). But even though he didn't bring home the hardware in 1987, Dennis Hopper saw his career restored -- and possibly his life saved -- with his appearance as the middle-aged former Hickory star clinging to his dreams and burying his disappointments in alcohol. Likely Hopper saw much of himself in Wilbur "Shooter" Flatch and, like his character, HOOSIERS turned his life around. In a movie that featured numerous interwoven themes, it was if nothing else the story of second chances, and a second chance at a career for both Dennis Hopper and Gene Hackman. Yeah, he was in a few other movies, but in the Salad bowl, he'll always be Shooter.